I fully expect the Democrats to do that gesture to liberals who'll want them to really protect choice, pass single-payer health care, etc.

Yeah, Democrats won't be much help with abortion rights (except stopping ultra right wing judges), but health care and some other things are already on the table. Most importantly we can start an investigation of the Bush Crime Family's push for a war in Iraq and hopefully impeach the bastards.

The dem party today isn't the one that last had a majority. The southern conservatives have been largely purged. The Hillary Clinton wing of the party still might prevail, but I'm not going to worry until I see it--as I can't change anything.